Game Day Central: No. 20/21 Richmond

Game Day Central PageAll the links you need to follow Saturday's Game • Live video (LFSN TV/BSN/ESPN3) • Live audio (LFSN Radio) • Williams Stadium information & directions • Game Day tickets • And more

First and 10 – Saturday's Top Storylines 1. Liberty will welcome No. 20/21 Richmond to Williams Stadium for the first time as part of the Flames' annual Homecoming weekend. It will mark Spiders' head coach Danny Rocco's first game back at Williams Stadium after coaching the Flames from 2006 through 2011. 2. The Flames will look for their first victory over a CAA foe since a 49-42 win against Hofstra on Nov. 22, 2003. See page 3 of the game notes for more information on Liberty's history against the CAA. 3. Liberty has won each of its last two games against Top 25 FCS opponents. See page 3 of the game notes for more information on the Flames' history against nationally ranked foes. 4. The Flames are 6-1 in their last seven Homecoming games, scoring 49.9 ppg during that span. See page 3 of the game notes for more information on Liberty's history in Homecoming tilts. 5. Junior QB Josh Woodrum, who has posted three straight 300-yard games, is within reach of several milestones on Saturday, as described on page 4 of the game notes. 6. All-American S Jacob Hagen has recorded seven interceptions in his last nine games and is one shy of 10 for his career. See page 7 of the game notes for more information on Hagen and the rest of the Flames' defense. 7. As seen on page 8 of the game notes, WR Dante Shells caught a career-high six passes at Richmond last season. His career high for receiving yards (96) came last week at Indiana State. 8. LBs Nick Sigmon and Jimmy O'Grady and RB Todd Macon all left the Indiana State game early due to injuries. See page 9 of the game notes for a look at their updated statuses for Saturday's game. 9. Junior WR Darrin Peterson's three consecutive 100-yard games have moved him up to No. 1 in the nation with 573 receiving yards, as seen on page 10 of the game notes. 10. Walt Aikens, who posted 10 tackles for the Flames at Richmond last season, came up with his first NFL interception on Sunday at Oakland. See page 20 of the game notes for more on Liberty's alumni in the NFL.

"4 Downs" with the Spiders 1 - Liberty and Richmond have only faced each other once on the gridiron. The Spiders recorded a 30-21 home win over the Flames on Sept. 21, 2013, a rain-drenched night at Robins Stadium. Saturday's game will mark Richmond's first visit to Williams Stadium. 2 - Liberty is 2-18 all-time against CAA opponents, with both victories coming at home. The Flames posted a 27-13 win over Villanova on Nov. 20, 1993 and a 49-42 (OT) triumph over Hofstra on Nov. 22, 2003. Since the Hofstra game, the Flames have lost 10 consecutive matchups with CAA foes. 3 - Both Liberty and Richmond have recorded a trio of 300-yard passing games already this season. The Spiders rank No. 2 nationally with 352.5 passing yards per contest. Meanwhile, Liberty's Josh Woodrum has thrown for 300 or more yards in each of the last three games, becoming the first Flame since Robby Justino (Oct. 26-Nov. 9, 1991) to do so. 4 - Saturday's game is not only Liberty's Homecoming contest, but it will also be a "Homecoming" of sorts for several of Richmond's staff members and players. Head coach Danny Rocco and four of his assistants (Brandon Streeter, Blaine McCorkle, Levern Belin and Manny Rojas) formerly coached at Liberty, while quarterback Michael Rocco played his high school games at Williams Stadium while attending Liberty Christian Academy.

Milestone Watch 1 - Jacob Hagen needs one interception to become the fifth Flame ever to pick off 10 or more career passes. Hagen has recorded seven interceptions in the last nine games, dating back to the 2013 season. Also, Nick Sigmon needs one tackle to become the first Flame with 200 career tackles since Nick Hursky graduated with 270 career stops in 2008. 2/174/300 - Josh Woodrum needs two TD passes and 174 passing yards to enter Liberty's career top five in each of those categories (see charts on page 9). Additionally, Woodrum could tie Robby Justino's program record if he is able to record his fourth consecutive 300-yard passing day. Justino notched a program-best four straight 300-yard passing performances between the 1990 and 1991 campaigns. 100 - Darrin Peterson has recorded three straight 100-yard receiving games, making him the first Flame to do so since Dominic Bolden in 2008. Pat Nelson is the only Liberty player ever to post four or more consecutive 100-yard receiving totals, reaching the mark in five straight games spanning the 1990 and 1991 seasons.

A Liberty Win Would ... • Mark Liberty's third consecutive victory in a matchup against a nationally ranked opponent. • Give the Flames their best six-game start to a season (4-2) since the 2010 Flames also opened the year at 4-2. • Extend Liberty's home winning streak to six. • Mark Liberty's eighth straight home win against a non-conference opponent and improve the Flames' record to 8-2 in non-conference home tilts under head coach Turner Gill. • Improve Liberty's all-time mark against CAA opponents to 3-18, snapping a 10-game losing streak against CAA foes. • Snap Richmond's 14-game winning streak against in-state, non-conference FCS opponents.